Say goodbye to those congested Beijing roads, bikers. On Friday, May 31, the capital finally unveiled its very first bicycle highway, as reported by China Plus.
Construction began on the elevated bike-only expressway last year, following the official announcement in 2017.
The 6.5-kilometer-long path stretches from Huilongguan in Changping all the way to the up-and-coming Shangdi area in Haidian district, home to a growing high-tech zone, and features three lanes totaling a width of 6 meters, according to Beijing News. There will also be approximately 5,000 parking spaces for individuals unable to make the full trek or those who need to stop along the way.
The average speed will be around 15 kilometers per hour and a reversible lane will be opened during peak hours to help ease congestion. The opening is intended to accommodate the large number of residents that commute from Huilongguan to Haidian for work everyday. It should help to improve traffic and cut down the average time on the road from 40 minutes to 26 minutes – saving a significant amount of time, all while promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Here’s hoping more of these highways will gradually open around the greater Beijing area, cutting down Beijing’s traffic problem and providing both open and safe spaces for bike enthusiasts.
READ MORE: Beijing's 'Bicycle Highway' Gets Green Light
[Top image via Alexandra Moss/Flickr]
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